Chicago Internal Organ Injury Lawyers
Internal organ injuries are potentially life threatening medical emergencies. Yet, the symptoms are not always immediately apparent to the victim, which is one of the reasons it is so important to seek prompt medical attention after a car accident, slip and fall accident, or any other type of injury that could cause this type of damage. According to WebMD, trauma can damage almost any organ in the body and cause internal bleeding, which may not occur for hours or even days after the accident.
If you have suffered internal organ injuries in an accident that was the fault of another, you have a right to seek full compensation for your losses. At Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC, we understand that pursuing a Chicago personal injury claim may be the last thing on your mind after a tragic accident. Although it cannot undo the harm you have suffered, recovering compensation can help ease the financial burdens you may be facing, including medical expenses and lost wages.
How Do Internal Organ Injuries Occur?
Two basic types of trauma can cause internal organ injuries:
- Blunt trauma: This occurs when a part of the body collides with a solid object that does not break the skin, often at high speeds. This type of trauma is common in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. As reported in the Merck Manual, blunt trauma to the internal organs in the abdominal cavity can occur when a bicyclist falls on the handlebars or with the sudden decrease in speed that happens with falls from heights and in motor vehicle crashes.
- Penetrating trauma: An object that strikes and penetrates the body can also damage internal organs. Examples are gunshot wounds, stabbing wounds, and construction or industrial accidents involving sharp objects.
Blunt trauma can cause damage to internal organs, even when no broken bones or external bleeding is present. The heart and lungs can be injured with blunt trauma to the chest. Any organ in the abdominal cavity is vulnerable to trauma, including:
- Solid organs: Liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas
- Hollow organs: Small intestine, colon, ureters, bladder, and stomach
- Blood vessels
- Abdominal wall
Symptoms of Internal Organ Injuries
Depending on the organ and nature of the injury, symptoms of internal organ damage may include:
- Mild abdominal pain or tenderness
- Pain radiating to the left shoulder (with spleen injury)
- Pain that is minimal but steadily worsens (with a tear in the small intestine)
- Blood in the urine (with kidney or bladder injury)
- Swollen abdomen (with internal bleeding)
- Rapid breathing; rapid heart rate; sweating; cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin; confusion; or low alertness (with significant blood loss)
- Fainting, dizziness, or light headedness (with internal bleeding)
- Ecchymosis – a large area of deep purple skin (with bleeding into the soft tissue and skin)
Legal Help In Chicago for Serious Internal Organ Injuries
Bodies are fragile organisms, not designed to withstand the tremendous impact of a motor vehicle crash, a fall from a height, or a crushing industrial accident. If internal organ damage occurs in an accident that is the result of an act of negligence, our dedicated legal team at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC can help you pursue the compensation you need to recover from your injuries and to help you get your life back on track. Call our Chicago internal organ injury lawyers today toll free at (312) 243-9922 for free legal advice about your case.